EP3411087B1 - Air purification device - Google Patents

Description

The present device is used for cleaning of air, in particular for cleaning air in motor vehicle interiors.

Various devices for cleaning the air in motor vehicles are known from the prior art. These are usually designed and arranged such that air is continuously sucked out of the vehicle interior, passed through a filter and then returned to the vehicle interior.

So is out of the DE 10 2014 012 870 A1 an air purifier known. This air purifier uses ultraviolet rays for air purification. The air cleaner has a housing having a housing inlet and outlet, a blower disposed inside the housing adjacent to the air inlet, an ultraviolet light emitting diode unit, and a filter unit. The filter unit is disposed inside the housing over the fan along a flow path of the air. There is also a flow arrangement provided inside the housing between the fan and the filter unit. At this time, the flow control device controls the flow of air along the flow path of the air between the outlet of the blower and the filter unit. To clean the air here photocatalytic, ultraviolet LEDs are used.

From the DE 20 2007 019 288 U1 discloses a system for purifying air using ozone and a ceramic, porous catalyst. The system includes a housing, at least one inlet and an outlet, at least one photon source, a ceramic core, and a fluid flow generating device with the photon source disposed upstream of the ceramic core.

From the US 5,919,422A a photocatalyst for deodorizing, cleaning, sterilizing and purifying water or air according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed. This has a substrate on which a titanium oxide film is arranged. In addition, a light emitting diode disposed adjacent to the titanium oxide film is provided which detects ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 360 to 400 nanometers and radiates on the titania film.

From the EP 2 181 720 A1 For example, there is disclosed a UVA radiation source apparatus that illuminates a surface of a substrate having a titania-based photocatalyst. The carrier is provided with an inner layer consisting of a metallic copper plate. The support is provided with a carbon inner layer and two outer layers, including the photocatalyst. An air circulation unit is provided for generating a movement of the air along the carrier so that the generated air flow passes through and over the carrier. The solid metallic compound is produced from bacteriostatic or antimicrobial or germicidal metals.

From the EP 0 707 989 A1 a device for purifying air is known. A cleaning takes place in such a way that outside air is sucked in via a housing and a blower arranged therein, cleaned in several cleaning stages and then supplied to the interior of the vehicle. The blower or the drive of the blower is powered by solar cells, which are arranged on the vehicle and serve as energy sources.

A disadvantage of the aforementioned prior art is that the cleaning effect and in particular the elimination of harmful particles or odor particles from the air to be cleaned are not sufficient and not possible over a longer period without maintenance interventions. This is due to the fact that mostly a mechanical filter is used, which has already taken such a quantity of particles after a relatively short time that it must be replaced in order to maintain the original cleaning performance. If there is no regular replacement, such a filter contributes more to the contamination of the air than to clean it. It is likely to be known to most users of air conditioners that a dirty filter significantly contributes to the odor nuisance in a motor vehicle.

Another disadvantage is that a filter change is associated with relatively high costs, since such a change can usually only be made in a specialist workshop.

In addition, it should be noted that, above all, new vehicles release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful substances over a certain period of time. In order to eliminate this as quickly as possible and without stress for the occupants of a vehicle, no systems are known from the prior art so far. Although are in the state of Technology filter systems, as described above, available, which can filter out such compounds, but the period over which keep this compound in the vehicle, relatively long.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide an air cleaning device which specifically reduces volatile organic substances and harmful substances and other air pollutants in the air in the vehicle interior and also avoids and eliminates unpleasant odors.

This object is achieved by an air cleaning device having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous developments are specified in the subclaims, the further description and in particular the description based on specific embodiments.

The present invention relates to an air cleaning unit having a housing which has at least one inlet opening for supplying an air flow and at least one outlet opening for discharging the air flow supplied via the inlet opening. At least one air cleaning unit and at least one lighting unit are arranged in the housing, wherein the at least one air cleaning unit and the at least one lighting unit are arranged opposite one another in the housing. The at least one air cleaning unit has at least one photocatalytically active surface area. The air flow is conducted in the housing at least partially along the at least one photocatalytically active surface area of the at least one air cleaning unit, wherein the at least one photocatalytic effective surface area of the at least one air cleaning unit of the at least one lighting unit can be illuminated with light and the at least one photocatalytically active surface area at least partially coated with titanium dioxide - TiO2 - or with titanium dioxide ions - TiO2 ions - doped.

The background of the invention consists of the TiO 2 layer of an inorganic layer which simultaneously has a reflective effect. This prevents the active TiO2 from attacking and possibly dissolving organic adhesive layers, while at the same time using and distributing the energy of the light more efficiently.

It is provided that the at least one air cleaning unit is arranged on one of the inner walls of the housing or that the at least one air cleaning unit in the middle of the housing this is arranged in a plane passing through. By arranging the at least one air cleaning unit on one of the inner walls of the housing, a good attachment can take place, at the same time, the air flow in the housing can be directed so that it is optimally matched to the at least one air cleaning unit. In an arrangement in the center of the housing, the at least one air cleaning unit can be surrounded directly by the air flow flowing into the housing and a good cleaning performance is achieved.

Furthermore, it is provided that the at least one lighting unit in the housing of the at least one air cleaning unit is arranged opposite one of the inner walls of the housing or in the middle of the housing, this running in a plane. The lighting unit is absolutely necessary, since only by on the at least one air cleaning unit or their photocatalytically active surface areas incident light, preferably UV light, the photocatalytic cleaning process takes place. Therefore, by this arrangement, the at least one lighting unit with respect to the at least one air cleaning unit good lighting and thus supply of UV light possible. The cleaning effect can also be generated with deep blue (visible light) and thus the invention is also possible with deep blue (visible light); but then a doped TiO2 must be used.

In addition, it is provided that the at least one lighting unit in the housing of the at least one air cleaning unit is arranged opposite one another such that the light emitted by the at least one lighting unit impinges almost completely on the at least one air cleaning unit.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 2, it is provided that in front of the at least one illumination unit lenses are arranged, which focus the light emitted by the at least one lighting unit on the at least one air cleaning unit or behind and / or next to the at least one lighting unit light reflectors or light-reflecting Regions are arranged which reflect the light emitted by the at least one lighting unit in the direction of the at least one air cleaning unit. Due to the arrangement of the lenses, a particularly good focusing of the emitted light on the at least one air cleaning unit is achieved. By the arrangement of light reflectors or light-reflecting Areas is achieved that even light that is not directed to the at least one air cleaning unit, but at least partially directed to the air cleaning unit.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 3 it is provided that the inner walls of the housing (2, 22) are painted white or coated with a light-reflecting material. It is thereby achieved that the light emitted by the at least one lighting unit is not absorbed by the housing, but is reflected and thus additionally directed onto or in the direction of the at least one air cleaning unit.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 4 it is provided that the at least one lighting unit consists of at least one light-emitting diode that emits UV light. Depending on the doping of the photocatalyst, activation can also take place with visible light.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 5, it is provided that the at least one air cleaning unit extends almost over the entire surface of the housing bottom and / or the housing cover of the housing and is fixable on the housing bottom and / or housing cover. Thus, a large area can be used for air purification and the at least one air cleaning unit can be well fixed in the housing.

It is inventively provided that the at least one air cleaning unit on the at least one catalytically effective surface area having side with a conical, cylindric, truncated cone, truncated pyramid, or ball hemispherical shape, or hedgehog-shaped. As a result of this shaping, the surface of the at least one air cleaning unit that is effective for air purification can be increased. The concrete design of the surface but only leads to a small increase in air resistance, which counteracts the flow of air in the housing.

Furthermore, the invention provides that the at least one lighting unit is designed in the form of a circuit board, which has a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged in rows at an equidistant distance from each other. By arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes is achieved that almost the entire surface of the at least one air cleaning unit is exposed to light and the light distribution in the housing is almost equal.

It must always be ensured a uniform irradiation of the surface in order to achieve the best possible cleaning effect.

In addition, the invention provides that the board has a plurality of rows of LEDs on the top and on the bottom. This allows the board, if it is located in the middle of the housing, illuminate both housing halves.

Finally, the invention provides that air guide elements are arranged in the housing, which divert the air flow to the at least one photocatalytically active surface area of the at least one air cleaning unit. In addition, this creates intentional turbulence of the air. This achieves a particularly high cleaning performance.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 6 it is provided that the air guide elements are arranged on the top and bottom of the board. This simplifies the manufacturing process, the number of parts and the assembly of the device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 7 it is provided that the air cleaning unit is arranged in or at the air intake of the recirculation damper of a motor vehicle. In this case, no separate fan is required for the air cleaning unit, since the air flow of the recirculation mode can be utilized and shared.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 8, it is provided that a VOC sensor for need-based control of the air cleaning unit is arranged in this or that already existing in the motor vehicle CO2 sensor is integrated for demand-driven control of the air cleaning unit.

In the following, the air cleaning device according to the invention will be described with reference to concrete embodiments in the figures. The following description based on the specific embodiments does not represent a limitation of the invention to one of these concrete embodiments.

FIG 1

einen schematischen Aufbau einer Luftreinigungsvorrichtung;

FIG 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Luftreinigungsvorrichtung;

FIG 3

eine Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Luftreinigungsvorrichtung mit den weiteren relevanten Bestandteilen;

FIG 4

eine erfindungsgemäße Luftreinigungssvorrichtung mit seitlich geöffnetem Gehäuse;

FIG 5

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Luftreinigungssvorrichtung mit seitlich geöffnetem Gehäuse;

FIG 6

einen Blick in den Lufteinlasskanal der Luftreinigungsvorrichtung;

FIG 7

einen Blick in den Luftausgangskanal der Luftreinigungssvorrichtung;

FIG 8

eine Reinigungseinheit;

FIG 9

eine Beleuchtungseinheit;

In the figures shows:

FIG. 1

a schematic structure of an air cleaning device;

FIG. 2

a perspective view of a Air cleaner;

FIG. 3

a view of an air cleaning device according to the invention with the other relevant components;

FIG. 4

an inventive air cleaning device with laterally open housing;

FIG. 5

a perspective view of an air cleaning device according to the invention with laterally open housing;

FIG. 6

a view into the air inlet duct of the air purification device;

FIG. 7

a look in the air outlet duct of the air purification device;

FIG. 8

a cleaning unit;

FIG. 9

a lighting unit;

In the figures, the same parts and / or components are provided with the same reference numerals. These parts and / or components substantially correspond to each other unless otherwise specified.

In FIG. 1 a section through a schematic air cleaning device 1 is shown. The air cleaning device 1 has a housing 2. The shape of the housing 2 may have a round, oval, hexagonal, n-sided or, preferably, a rectangular cross-section.

To be particularly advantageous, the configuration of the cross section of the housing 2 has resulted in a rectangular shape. The housing 2 is cuboid.

The housing 2 is preferably made of plastic; in a particular embodiment, the plastic chosen is ABS.

The housing 2 has at two opposite ends an inlet opening in the form of an air inlet channel 3 and an outlet opening in the form of an air outlet channel 4 for air supplied to the housing 2 via the air inlet channel 3.

About the air inlet duct 3 to be cleaned air of the air cleaning device 1 is supplied in the housing 2; Via the air outlet channel 4, the air purified in the air cleaning device 1 is led out of the housing 2 again.

The air flow 9 passes through the housing 2 from the air inlet duct 3 to the air outlet duct 4. The air flow is directed in the housing 2.

In the housing 2, an air cleaning unit 5 is arranged. Several air cleaning units 5 may be arranged in the housing 2.

The air cleaning unit 5 is arranged on one of the inner walls of the housing 2 and is positively or non-positively connectable with the inner wall. For this purpose, clips or holders are provided, which fix the air cleaning unit 5 on the inner wall of the housing 2.

On the air cleaning unit 5 opposite inner wall of the housing 2, a lighting unit 6 is arranged. However, it is also possible to arrange a plurality of lighting units 6 in the housing 2.

The lighting unit 6 is arranged on the inner wall of the housing 2 so that the light emitted by the lighting unit 6 is emitted almost completely directed to the air cleaning unit 5.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, lenses are arranged in front of the illumination unit 6, which focus the light of the illumination unit 6 on the air cleaning unit 5.

In a further embodiment of the invention, prisms or mirrors are arranged on the illumination unit 6, which prevent the emitted light of the illumination unit 6 from striking the air purification unit 5.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the interior of the housing 2 is painted white or provided with a light-reflecting surface coating.

The air cleaning unit 5 has at least one photocatalytically active region 7. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1 There are three such areas 7.

The photocatalytically active regions 7 consist of titanium dioxide - TiO 2 - or are doped with titanium oxide ions - TiO 2 ions.

The illumination device 6 is now tuned to the photocatalytically active regions 7. The illumination unit 6 emits UV light or visible light with a presettable or preset wavelength. The photons with the corresponding wavelength of the UV light or visible light of the illumination device 6 trigger a photochemical reaction in the titanium oxide when it strikes the photocatalytically active region 7, which causes odorant particles and / or harmful particles to be converted or destroyed in the air , The odorant particles and / or harmful particles impinging on the photocatalytically active regions 7 are destroyed or converted by the photochemical process and thus the supplied air is purified.

The lighting device 6 is at least one light-emitting diode, preferably a UV light-emitting diode. UV has the meaning of ultraviolet.

According to the invention, a plurality of UV light-emitting diodes are arranged and form the illumination device 6. The light-emitting diodes are arranged in mutually equidistant relation to one another in a row. There are then several rows of UV LEDs arranged parallel to each other and at the same distance from each other.

The lighting device 6 is not in a FIG. 1 controlled control unit.

In the housing 2 air guide elements 8 are arranged. These serve to direct the air flow 9 in the housing 2 to the air cleaning unit 5 and the photocatalytically active areas 7, so that the largest possible part of the air flow 9 with the Harmful particles and / or pollutant particles to the photocatalytically active areas 7 passes to react there photocatalytically. In order to achieve the best possible air flow around the photocatalytically active areas 7 of the air cleaning unit 5, and at the same time not to affect the light output of the lighting unit 6 on the air cleaning unit 5, the air guide 8 are not located above the photocatalytically active areas 7 of the air cleaning unit 5, but before and after the lighting unit 6.

By the cleaning unit 5 and its potokatalyttisch effective areas 7 is, upon impact of UV light, emitted from the illumination unit 6, accordingly cleans the air flowing through.

In FIG. 2 a housing 22 of a further embodiment of a further air cleaning device 21 is shown. The housing 21 consists of several individual parts, which can be assembled to form the housing 22. The housing 22 is cuboid-shaped and has a taper on one side, which merges into the air inlet channel 23. On the side opposite the air inlet passage 23 of the housing 22, a further corresponding taper is provided, which forms the air outlet passage 24. The air to be cleaned is taken from the motor vehicle interior, in particular sucked out of this, and fed via the air inlet passage 23 to the housing 22 and thus the air cleaning device 21. In the housing 22 then the cleaning of the air, analogous to at FIG. 1 described, and the purified air is then discharged via the air outlet passage 24 and then returned to the vehicle interior.

Furthermore, on the housing receptacles 45 are provided which are fixedly connected to the housing 22. These receptacles 45 serve to be able to fasten the air cleaning device 21 in a motor vehicle at a designated location. For this purpose, a clamp or a screw is provided.

In FIG. 3 the air cleaning device 21 is shown with the housing 22. It is arranged on the air inlet duct 23, an air supply passage 30, at the input of a fan 31 is arranged, which sucks air from the vehicle interior and blows through the air supply passage 30 and the air inlet passage 23 into the housing 22 of the air cleaning device 21, available. The air supply channel 30 is plugged onto the taper of the air inlet channel 23 and is positively connected thereto.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the air supply duct 30 can be connected to the air inlet duct 23 or the housing 22 by means of a snap device. On the side of the air outlet opening 24, an air duct 32 is arranged, which receives the outflowing air from the air outlet opening 24, channeled and correspondingly to the interior of a motor vehicle, from which the air has been sucked by means of the fan 31, fed back.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that in the air duct 32 at least one air filter units 33, such as a HEPA filter or another air filter, is arranged.

In FIG. 4 the housing 22 of the air cleaning device 21 is shown open laterally. There are the relevant components, which is arranged in the housing 22, shown.

The air to be cleaned is supplied in the form of an air flow 29 to the housing 22 via the air inlet duct 23 and the purified air in the form of the air flow 29 via the air outlet 24 out of the housing 22.

The housing 22 has a housing bottom 34 and a housing cover 35, which together with the not in FIG. 4 shown housing side parts form the housing 22. At the bottom of the housing 34, the receptacles 45 are arranged. Laterally on the outside, both the housing bottom 34 and the housing cover 35 have a plurality of indentations 36, in which corresponding lugs snap into the housing side parts and thus connect the housing bottom 34 and the housing cover 35 via the housing side parts.

On the inside of the housing cover 35 and the inside of the housing bottom 34, an air cleaning unit 25 is arranged in each case. An air cleaning unit 25 extends almost over the entire surface of the housing bottom 34 and the housing cover 35. Each air cleaning unit 25 is positively and / or non-positively connected to the housing bottom 34 or the housing cover 35. This connection takes place, for example, via a gluing, gluing or screwing.

Each of the two air cleaning units 25, one in the housing cover 35 and one on the housing bottom 34, is now in its shape, as in FIG. 5 shown, optimized, on the one hand, to have the largest possible surface and on the other hand, to counteract the flow of air 29 in the housing 22 fluidly as little as possible. Thus, the pressure loss in the housing 22 is kept as low as possible, but at the same time the air flow 29 at the largest possible surface of the two Air cleaning units 25 passed and brought into contact with these.

In the concrete execution acc. FIG. 4 are pyramidal forms 37, shown with a square or n-shaped base. These also look like teeth that protrude from the housing bottom 34 upwards or hanging from the housing cover 35. These pyramid forms 37 are each arranged equidistant from each other.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the surface of the air cleaning unit 25, which is coated with titanium dioxide - TiO 2 - or partially coated or with titanium dioxide ions - TiO 2 ions - doped, in the form of a conical, folding, cylinder -, truncated cone, truncated pyramid, spherical or hemispherical shape, or in hedgehog-shaped, designed.

The air purification unit 25 with the pyramid forms 37 is now doped with titanium oxide ions - TIO 2 ions - or coated with titanium dioxide - TIO 2 -. This takes place primarily in the area of the pyramid forms 37.

According to the invention, it is provided that at least partial regions of the air cleaning unit 25 are doped with titanium oxide ions or partially coated with titanium oxide or completely coated.

Due to the selected pyramid shapes 37, it is now possible for the air flow 29 flowing through the housing 22 to flow around these pyramidal shapes 37 of the air purification units 25 and thus for the air purification unit 25 to have as large a photocatalytically active area as possible.

In the middle of the housing 22, a circuit board 38 is arranged. On the board 38 are now on the top of the board 38 and the bottom of the board 38 light emitting diode rows 39 having a plurality of side by side in a row, almost equidistantly from each other, a plurality of light emitting diodes 40, respectively. The light-emitting diodes 40 are preferably light-emitting diodes which emit UV light.

The light-emitting diodes 40, which are arranged in the light-emitting diode rows 39, form the illumination unit 26, which serves to trigger the photocatalytic reaction. By the UV light of the LEDs 40, which radiates in the direction of pyramid shapes 37 of the air cleaning unit 25, the photocatalytic process is set in motion.

The passing air stream 29 is cleaned photocatalytically.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4 the air flow 29 is divided in the housing 22. In order to bring the air stream 29 particularly well with the photocatalytically active areas of the air cleaning units 25 in contact, 38 air guide elements 28 are arranged on the board. These serve to direct the air flow 29 to the photocatalytically active areas.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of FIG. 4 , It is the configuration of the shape of the air cleaning unit 25 with the embodiment of the pyramid forms 37 clearly visible, as well as the arrangement of the light emitting diodes 40 in light emitting diode rows 39 and arranged on the board 38 air guide elements 28. There are also supports 41, which of the on Housing bottom 34 or attached to the housing cover 35 air cleaning units 25 protrude in the direction of the board 38. These supports can be arranged on the housing bottom 34 or on the housing cover 35; in designated recesses and on these supports 39, the board 38 is fixed. The circuit board 38 is disposed approximately centrally in the housing 22 and has the housing bottom 34 and the housing cover 35 at a nearly equal distance.

In FIG. 6 a plan view of the air supply channel 23 is shown. It can be seen the supports 41, which fix the board 38 in the housing 22. The housing side parts 42 can be used in guides in the housing cover 35 and housing bottom 34 and are fixed on the indentations 36 by snapping it in the same.

The receptacles 45 are used to attach the Luftreinungunsvorrichtung. 1

In FIG. 7 is a plan view of the air outlet channel 24 is shown. In turn, the supports 41 are arranged, which hold the circuit board 38 centrally in the housing 22. Likewise, the arrangement of the light emitting diodes 40 is shown on the board 38 and the shape of the air cleaning units 25 and their designed for cleaning the air and air resistance optimization surface by means of pyramid forms 37th

In FIG. 8 now an air cleaning units 25 with the surface design in the form of pyramid shapes 37 is shown. The photocatalytically active regions of the pyramidal molds 37 are produced by first producing the surface of the air cleaning unit from plastic using a known and customary manufacturing process, and then to produce the surface with a titanium oxide-TiO 2 -in Powder form is coated. For this, the resin method can be used. However, it is also possible to coat the surface via a SOL gel process. Furthermore, it is possible to use doped TiO 2 which, on the one hand, has a higher efficiency when irradiated with UV or, on the other hand, has been modified by incorporation of molecules in such a way that high activity already exists under visible light. Also, the catalyst can already be contained in the plastic (TiO2 doped plastic) and burned free. There is the possibility of vapor deposition or powder coating. In addition, it is possible to use other photocatalysts such as LiNbO3.

Due to the concrete design of the surface with pyramid shapes 37, a surface area of about 521 square centimeters is created at a base area of the air cleaning unit 25 of 117 square centimeters, i. the surface of the air cleaning unit 25 is almost five times larger than the base area.

As a result of the coating with titanium dioxide - TIO2 - a large area with photocatalytically active areas can be created.

The supports 41 are integrated as part of the air purification unit 25. When coated or doped with titanium dioxide - TIO2 - the supports 41 also act as photocatalytically active areas.

In FIG. 9 the circuit board 38 is shown in a plan view. The invisible bottom is designed analog. The board 38 has arranged in rows 39 four LEDs 40. There are a total of five rows of light emitting diodes 39 present, each on the top and bottom of the board 38. In the following, the air guide elements 28 are shown.

The light-emitting diodes 40 are light-emitting diodes which emit ultraviolet light, which is preferably tuned to the titanium dioxide and its photocatalytic effect which can be generated thereby, and has a wavelength in the visible light range between 400 and 500 nanometers, preferably in the region around 450 nanometers. When using doped TiO 2, UV-A light should be used, preferably with a wavelength of 367 nm.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 21

Air cleaner

2, 22

casing

3, 23

Air inlet duct

4, 24

air outlet

5, 25

Air purification unit

6, 26

lighting unit

7, 27

photocatalytically effective area of the air purification unit

8, 28

air guide elements

9, 29

airflow

30

Air supply duct

31

fan

32

Air duct

33

Air filter unit

34

caseback

35

housing cover

36

indentations

37

pyramid shapes

38

circuit board

39

Light-emitting diode rows

40

LEDs

41

Support

42

Housing side parts

45

Recordings

Claims (8)

1. Air purification device (1, 21), consisting of a housing (2, 22) having at least one inlet opening (2, 23) for supply of an air flow (9, 29) and at least one outlet opening (4, 24) for discharge of the air flow (9, 29) supplied by way of the inlet opening (3, 23), wherein at least one air purifying unit (5, 25) and at least one lighting unit (6, 26) are arranged in the housing (2, 22), wherein the at least one air purifying unit (5, 25) and the at least one lighting unit (6, 26) are arranged opposite one another in the housing (2, 22), the at least one air purifying unit (5, 25) has at least one photocatalytically active surface region (7, 27) and the air flow (9, 29) is guided in the housing (2, 22) at least partially along the at least one photocatalytically active surface region (7, 27) of the at least one air purifying unit (5, 25), wherein the at least one photocatalytically active surface region (7, 27) of the at least one air purifying unit (5, 25) can be irradiated with light by the at least one lighting unit (6, 26) and the at least one photocatalytically active surface region (7) is coated at least partly with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) or doped with titanium dioxide ions (TiO₂ ions), characterised in that the at least one air purifying unit (5, 25) consists of two air purifying units (5, 25) arranged opposite one another at the inner walls of the housing (2, 22), wherein the at least one lighting unit (6, 26) is arranged in the housing (2, 22) in the centre of the housing (2, 22) to traverse this in a plane so that the light emitted by the at least one lighting unit (6, 26) is incident almost in its entirety on the two air purifying units (5, 25), wherein the two air purifying units (25) are shaped on the side having the catalytically active surface region (7, 27) with a conical, pleated, cylindrical, frusto-conical, frusto-pyramidal, spherical or hemispherical geometric form or are spiny and the at least one lighting unit (6, 26) has the form of a circuitboard (38) having a plurality of light-emitting diodes (40) arranged in rows (39) and at an equidistant spacing from one another, wherein the circuitboard (38) has a plurality of rows (39) of light-emitting diodes (40) on the upper side and on the lower side, and wherein air guide elements (8, 28) which deflect the air flow (9, 29) onto the at least one photocatalytically active surface region (7, 27) of the at least one air purifying unit (5, 25) are arranged in the housing (2, 22).
2. Air purification device (1, 21) according to claim 1, characterised in that lenses which focus the light emitted by the at least one lighting unit (6, 26) on the at least one air purifying unit (5, 25) are arranged in front of the at least one lighting unit (6, 26) or that light reflectors or light-reflecting regions which reflect the light emitted by the at least one lighting unit (6, 26) in the direction of the at least one air purifying unit (5, 25) are arranged behind and/or adjacent to the at least one lighting unit (6, 26).
3. Air purification device (1, 21) according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the inner walls of the housing (2, 22) are painted white and/or coated with a light-reflecting material.
4. Air purification device (1, 21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one lighting unit (6, 26) consists of at least one light-emitting diode (40) which emits ultraviolet light.
5. Air purification device (1, 21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one air purifying unit (25) extends over almost the entire area of the housing base (34) and/or the housing cover (35) of the housing (22) and is fixable to the housing base (34) and/or housing cover (35).
6. Air purification device (1, 21) according to claim 1, characterised in that the air guide elements (28) are arranged on the upper side and lower side of the circuitboard (38).
7. Air purification device (1, 21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the air purification device (1, 21) is arranged in or at the air intake of the air circulation flap of a motor vehicle.
8. Air purification device (1, 21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a volatile organic compound sensor for need-based control of the air purification device is arranged therein or a CO₂ sensor already present in the motor vehicle is incorporated for need-based control of the air purification device.

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